Easton Police Honor 24 For Heroic Deeds Preventing A Suicide, Discovering A Fire And Disarming A Man Head List

September 28, 1985|The Morning Call

The Easton Police Department honored 18 of its officers as well as six civilians last night at the Sheraton-Easton Inn during the fifth annual awards presentation.

Three officers received commendations for merit, while 15 officers received unit citations for six incidents that occurred in the city. Easton City Councilman William Houston was the guest speaker. Houston heads council's police and fire committee.

Officer Barry E. Kramer received a commendation for merit for a Jan. 18 incident in which he responded to a call of a man threatening suicide. Upon arriving on the scene, Kramer saw the man on the porch holding a shotgun to his throat. Kramer quickly disarmed the man before he could harm himself or others.

Officer Scott M. Bachman received a commendation for an Oct. 27, 1984, incident in which he spotted an early-morning fire on his way home from work. Noticing a heavy smoke odor, Bachman backtracked until he found the source of the smoke, a house fire in a secluded area of the city. Bachman woke the sleeping occupants of the house, called the fire department and carried a child in a body cast on out of the house.

Officer James B. Broscius Jr. received a commendation for a July 28 incident in front of the Trade Union Club on S. 4th Street. A man had pulled out a loaded gun and was threatening others. Broscius pulled his revolver and arrested the man before anyone was injured.

Unit citations were issued to the following officers:

- Jack R. Celia and Donald H. Michael. On Jan. 6 a rape occurred in New Jersey, and a description of the vehicle involved resulted in Easton police giving chase. Celia and Michael located the suspect and conducted an investigation and incriminating evidence was found. The suspect was identified by the victim and arrested.

- William G. Howey Jr. and James B. Broscius Jr. On Feb. 12 a raid on an apartment was conducted, and drugs and a sawed-off shotgun were found. During the interview conducted by the officers, in Spanish, the suspect admitted committing an armed robbery and implicated others who were involved.

- Lt. John W. Border Jr., Detective Thomas A. Mangiafico, Howell A. Storm and Jack R. Celia. On March 12 at 1 a.m. the officers responded to a call at Lafayette College about a man bleeding. The man was found and taken to the hospital. Further investigation by the officers revealed the man had been responsible for several burglaries on campus. Later interviews of the suspect resulted in his admission of the crimes and the implication of another man.

- Lloyd P. Johnson and John J. Mazzeo. On June 28 at 1:26 a.m. Mazzeo and Johnson responded to a burglary in progress and stopped a man near the scene. Evidence at the scene implicated the man, and he later admitted his involvement in the crime.

- Sgt. Carmen Pezzuto and Donald H. Michael. On July 28 at 3:20 a.m. a fight occurred in which a man was armed with a gun. Pezzuto and Michael assisted the arresting officer in keeping a loud and aggressive crowd under control. The crowd was dispersed without further incident, and a subsequent investigation determined the arrested man did not have a permit for the gun and was also charged as a former convict not to own a firearm.

Civilian Service Awards were given to:

- James Libiano. On Oct. 9, 1984 about 10 p.m. a fire started in an apartment building near a bar owned and operated by Libiano. Libiano called the fire department and went into the building, knowing it was occupied, woke a resident and carried a child out of the building. He then went back inside, found two more children and brought them to safety.

- Edward Hartman. On Aug. 26 at 1:28 a.m. Hartman saw two men acting suspiciously in his neighborhood. He called police, and as a result officers determined a break-in occurred in a home where a 76-year-old woman was asleep. Two suspects were apprehended inside the home before they could steal anything or harm the woman.

- The Rev. Samuel Santos. On Feb. 12 a man was arrested for having drugs and a sawed-off shotgun. The suspect had difficulty speaking English. Santos and a Spanish-speaking police officer conducted an interview, and Santos was influential in convincing the suspect to cooperate. The suspect admitted an armed robbery and implicated others.

- Verna Mumaw. On June 29 at 1:28 a.m. Mumaw heard glass breaking and then saw a man breaking into a store near her home. She called police, and the suspect was apprehended a short distance from the scene.

- The Highway Patrol C.B. Club. Since 1980 the club has assisted police on various occasions in traffic control and assisting civilians. In 1985 up to August, the club assisted in eight events, contributing over 250 hours.

- Robert Smeltzly. Early June 16 a police officer was attempting to arrest a man when the man's brother attacked the officer from behind. Both men started fighting with the officer before he could radio for assistance. Smeltzly pulled one of the men off the officer and held him until the officer could radio for a backup unit.